SERS activity of Co, Ni and Bi nanoparticles

Plasmonic activity of Co, Ni and Bi nanoparticles was investigated, with emphasis on Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS). Nanoparticles were produced via laser ablation synthesis in water, and characterized through UV-Vis optical absorption, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy. The studied materials present localized surface plasmon resonances extending from the ultraviolet to the visible and near infrared, and SERS activity was demonstrated using proline as a probe bioanalyte. The results were compared to those using gold nanoparticle substrates under similar experimental conditions and demonstrate that all tested nanoparticles show promising potential for the development of SERS-based sensors, which may be of interest for applications involving organic and biologically important molecules.